Journal entry# 13 Mark Twain

Siu Faat Jimmy Wong
English 48b
January 25, 2008
Professor Lankford

Quote:

So we slid in there and got three candles, and Tom laid five cents on the table for pay…But Tom give him five cents to keep quiet.

Summary:

Tom gave five cents twice for the candles and the crying boy.

Response:

I think that Tom fully understands the power of money. He is supposed to be a robber in the story. However, after he got somebody’s candles, he put down five cents for paid. In his mind, he was not a normal thief who would steal somebody’s candle. Therefore, he was willing to pay some money. It was quite interesting.

Moreover, he knew well that the member in his gang also loved money as he did. So Tom would give the crying boy five cents to ask him to “shut up”. I think the reason why Tom is so eager to be a robber is mainly because he really knows that money really works in many aspects and he really wants to do something different. Right after I read the passage between Tom and the crying boy, I remember my teenage. My father and mother always pay me some money, like several dollars, to ask me to get an A in school. Like the crying boy, I always obeyed the one who gave me money. I would try my best to study at home. The several dollars could really motivate me to study. Therefore, I think that giving money to children really works.
However, this act should not be 100% okay in the actual world. Otherwise, we may be charged with corruption. We cannot always pay money to get what we want. We have to be aware in some cases. For example, we cannot pay the policeman and tell him not to give us tickets of speeding. We cannot pay our professors and ask him to give me an A. Otherwise, we will get into trouble.